SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
STARDOM GROW UP STARS
MARCH 30, 2019
NIIGATA, JAPAN AT NIIGATA CITY EAST PLAZA
AIRED ON STARDOM WORLD
REPORT BY HARLEY R. PAGEOT, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Onozaki pointed out that Saya Iida pinned Sumire on the last show and said now she’ll do it too to get her first win.
(1) NATSU SUMIRE vs. “LIONHEART” LEO ONOZAKI
Sumire won handily with a northern lights suplex.
WINNER: Natsu Sumire in 6:27.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Onozaki referred to this one as being a late-minute change and the on-screen graphic listed AZM as the winner.)
-Rina said they’d win because they’re an established team. Hanan said she always teams with her sisters so she knows how to beat them.
(2) STARS (Artist Of Stardom Champion Saki Kashima & Hanan) vs. STARS (Hina & Rina)
Hanan made Hina tap to an armbar.
WINNERS: Hanan & Kashima in 5:44.
(Pageot’s Perspective: A classic Hanan Shimai match with the sisters beating each other up for most of it and big sis coming out on top.)
-Kyona said their trio have teamed together a lot. Iida just won her first match and they want to carry on that momentum.
(3) OEDO TAI (World Of Stardom Champion Kagetsu, High Speed Champion Hazuki, & Andras Miyagi) vs. JAN (Jungle Kyona, Natsuko Tora, & Saya Iida)
Iida survived a fair amount of punishment from Miyagi but fell to a missile dropkick.
WINNERS: Oedo Tai in 13:29.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Basic match to give Miyagi a win after the last show and emphasize that Iida’s last victory was a one-time deal. She shouldn’t get too confident yet.)
-Kel said she and Kong are a well-oiled team. Viper reminded us of what happened when she and Kong faced off in singles action. Priestley said she and Viper have been teaming together for over a year.
(4) QUEEN’S QUEST (Viper & Bea Priestley) vs. GOYA KONG & REBEL KEL
Priestley with a codebreaker to Kong. Viper with a back senton and Vader bomb to pin her.
WINNERS: Queen’s Quest in 7:35.
-Kel yelled at Kong for losing. They started shoving each other and had to be separated by JAN and the rookie squad.
(Pageot’s Perspective: Surprising finish considering Kong was challenging for the top title two nights earlier and Kagetsu suggested a rematch in the future. But with Priestley signed to AEW and Viper to NXT UK it seemed unlikely either of those women would lose.)
-AZM said QQ would beat Stars soundly and then go eat some rice. Kid said she beat AZM in the main event the last time they were in Niigata. Hoshiki said this was her Niigata debut.
(5) QUEEN’S QUEST (Wonder Of Stardom Champion/Goddess Of Stardom Champion Momo Watanabe, Konami, & AZM) vs. STARS (WOH World Champion/Artist Of Stardom Champion Mayu Iwatani, Arisa Hoshiki, & Starlight Kid)
Kid looked for a sunset bomb but AZM rolled her up.
WINNERS: Queen’s Quest in 13:37.
-AZM said QQ has won everything recently and she wants things to stay this way. She’s worried, though, because there’s a draft in April. She has faith that Watanabe will bring back the same members.
(Pageot’s Perspective: This was definitely just a filler house show. Our next event is the big New York City show but that lineup’s kind of an odd one because half the card is American wrestlers that have either never competed in Stardom or at least not competed at all in 2019. The return of the draft is huge, though. So many possibilities there. Once the date for that one is announced maybe we’ll do a predictions and wishful thinking column.)
Oh, didn’t even notice you reviewed this one lol.
It was a filler show in terms of storyline development, but the main event was actually really good. Nobody can convince me there’s a better under-18 wrestler in the world right now than AZM, regardless of sex or nationality.
A pre-draft column would be cool. Maybe some bracketology predictions for the Cinderella Tournament after the brackets are released for that too?
Yeah, storyline wise it was filler, but that main event was great. Draft has been announced for the 14th and Hana Kimura is officially starting her own faction apparently.